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Year 4 English — Writing a short paragraph

Turn a few given points into a short paragraph that keeps to one topic and runs in a sensible order.

Name: ________________________

  1. 1.Put these sentences in order to make one short paragraph.

    • We came home tired and full of stories.
    • At the very end we were allowed to feed the ducks.
    • Our class went to the zoo last month.
    • First we saw the elephants being washed.
    • The monkeys came next, and they stole each other's food.

  2. 2.Sort each sentence by the job it does in a paragraph about bicycles.

    Groups: Opens the paragraph · Gives a reason or a detail · Closes the paragraph

    • It costs nothing at all to run.
    • It can be parked almost anywhere.
    • So it is no wonder that so many people ride one.
    • A bicycle is the best way to get about a small town.

  3. 3.Which sentence would open a paragraph about why the monsoon matters?

    • a) I have a yellow umbrella.
    • b) It rained on Tuesday afternoon.
    • c) My school is near the bus stop.
    • d) The rains change life for everybody here.

  4. 4.You are writing a paragraph about your school library. Sort each sentence by whether it belongs in it.

    Groups: Belongs · Does not belong

    • It is the quietest room in the school.
    • We may borrow two books at a time.
    • The library has a whole shelf of story books.
    • I lost my water bottle on Tuesday.
    • The match was cancelled because of rain.
    • My uncle drives a blue car.

  5. 5.One word, please. Which joining word would you put in front of the last point in a list — the one that brings it to an end?

  6. 6.A paragraph should be about how many topics? Write the number.

  7. 7.Where does a paragraph usually tell the reader what it is about?

    • a) Nowhere — the reader guesses
    • b) In its last sentence
    • c) In the middle
    • d) In its first sentence

  8. 8.You have written a plain statement in your paragraph. How should it begin and end?

    • a) However you like
    • b) With a capital letter, and end with a comma
    • c) With a capital letter, and end with a full stop
    • d) With a small letter, and end with a comma

Answer key — Year 4 English — Writing a short paragraph

  1. 1. 1. Our class went to the zoo last month. 2. First we saw the elephants being washed. 3. The monkeys came next, and they stole each other's food. 4. At the very end we were allowed to feed the ducks. 5. We came home tired and full of stories.
  2. 2. A bicycle is the best way to get about a small town. → Opens the paragraph; It costs nothing at all to run. → Gives a reason or a detail; It can be parked almost anywhere. → Gives a reason or a detail; So it is no wonder that so many people ride one. → Closes the paragraph
  3. 3. d) The rains change life for everybody here.
  4. 4. The library has a whole shelf of story books. → Belongs; It is the quietest room in the school. → Belongs; We may borrow two books at a time. → Belongs; My uncle drives a blue car. → Does not belong; The match was cancelled because of rain. → Does not belong; I lost my water bottle on Tuesday. → Does not belong
  5. 5.
    • finally
    • lastly
    • last of all
    • last
  6. 6.
    • 1
    • one
  7. 7. d) In its first sentence
  8. 8. c) With a capital letter, and end with a full stop